Heating system



A. M. BROWN HEATING SYSTEM May 26,192.6.l

Filed Dec.

3mm /r// f1'. Brou/724 Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to steam or hot Water heating systems, and has more particular reference to an improved steam or hot water generator for such systems.

More particularly, the present invention relates to heating systems for buildings wherein the generated steam or hot Water is stored in a tank having water circulatory connections with the radiators of the system so that the steam or hot Water continuously circulates by gravity (thermal) circulation. It has been proposed, in systems of this kind, to provide the stand boiler or storage tank of the system directly with an electric heater, but the use of an expensive heater and the consumption of considerable current was required to heat the water or generate the steam directly in the stand boiler or storage tank. Accordingly, the present invention aims to improve upon systems of this kind by providing a relatively small water back external to and having water circulatory connections with the stand boiler or storage tank, in combination with an improved and simplified form of electric heater associated with said water back whereby the hot water or steam may be expeditiously generated with a minimum consumption of current.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a heating system embodying a steam or hot water generator constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 isa vertical longitudinal sectional View through the water back and electric heater of the steam or hot water generator, and taken substantially on line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the water back removed.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates an ordinary stand boiler or sto-rage tank to the bottom of which is suitably connected a Water supply pipe 6 controlled by a valve 'L Leading from the top of the boiler or tank 5 is a steam or hot water outlet pipe 8 which conducts the steam or hot water to the radiators of the system, one of which is shown at 9. The connection of pipe 8 with the radiators will oi course be at the top of the latter as usual, at which point there may be provided the usual control valve I0. A further pipe II leads from the bottoms of the radiators to the bottom of stand boiler 5 and is provided with the usual check valve I2 at the point of connection thereof with each radiator. The pipes 8 and I I thus form steam or water circulatory connections between the storage tank or boiler 5 and the radiators of the system, only one of the radiators being illustrated for purposes of simplicity.

The present invention contemplates the provision of electrical means of a simple and ecient nature for heating the water supplied to tank or boiler 5 so as to expeditiously generate steamv or hot water with a minimum consumption of current. As shown, the present steam or hot water generator consists of a conventional water back I3 consisting of a flat hollow metallic shell provided at one end with a pair of spaced superposed nipples I4 and I5 respectively connected by pipes I6 and Il with the lower and upper portions of boiler or storage tank 5. The pipes I 6 and I1 thus form circulatory connections between the boiler or tank 5 and the water back i3. Said water back I3 may be provided with a central longitudinal baille I8 extending from the wall provided with the nipples I4 and I5 and at a peint between the latter toward the opposite end wall so as to cause circulation of the water the entire length of the water back as it passes therethrough from the cold Water inlet pipe IS to the hot Water or steam outlet pipe I'I. Tins insures maximum heating efficiency in connection with an electric heater having a heating element or resistor located at one or both sides of the water back for the entire length of the latter as will presently be described.

TheV electrical heater for the water back I3 consists of a hollow body I9 molded of re clay or other suitable heat and electric insulating material so as to snugly fit over and encase the top, sides and one end of. said water back as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the body I9 being left open at the bottom to facilitate placing of the same over the Water back and being left open at one end to avoid interference with the pipes I6 and I'I. A side wall of the body I9 is provided in its inner face for substantially the entire width and length thereof with a recess 20 in which is positioned an electrical heating element or resistor 2I preferably consisting of a zig-zag coil terminating near the top of recess 20 at opposite ends of the latter where its terminals are connected 50 with conductors 22 and 23 embedded in the top wall of body I9 and attached to the terminals of an attachment plug receptacle 24 also embedded in said top wall of body I9. Thus, current for the resistance element ZI may be supplied there- 55 to from an ordinary house wiring system through the medium of an attachment cord having a plug 25 on one end adapted to be plugged into the receptacle 24. Such attachment cord is indicated at 26 in Figure 1, and as is also shown in this figure, a suitable thermostat 2l may be included in the attachment cord 26 or in the circuit of the electric heater to throw the same into operation when the temperature within any room where a radiator El is located falls below a predetermined point, and to throw said heater out of operation when such temperature rises above a predetermined point. Such controls are conventional and need not be described in more detail.

In operation, current is supplied to the resistance element 2| and the latter heats one side of the water back I3 substantially throughout the area thereof so as to eiliciently heat the water Within said water back. As the water becomes heated in the water back, it will pass therefrom through pipe I1 into the upper portion of boiler or tank 5, additional water flowing into the water back from the bottom of tank or boiler 5 by way of pipo i6. This continuous heating and circulation of water continues as long as the heater is in operation, and by providing the necessary resistance element, the water may be heated in Water back I3 so as to be generated into steam. In that case, the steam will be discharged by way of pipe Il into the top of boiler or tank 5. Regardless of whether the heating medium generated is steam or hot water, it will pass from the top of boiler 5 by way of pipe 8 to the several radiators oi' the heating system, being cooled in passage through such radiators and ultimately returning to the bottom of. boiler or tank 5 by way of pipe Il. As soon as the temperature in e room reaches the desired point, the thermo- El will automatically render the heater inoperative, and when such temperature lowers to a predetermined point said thermostat will again place the heater in operation.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a very simple and cheap means for generating steam and hot water embodying an electric heater of inexpensive construction which may operate einciently on a minimum amount of current. Also, this invention involves no expensive modification or the ordinary hot water boiler or storage tank which is employed, and particularly requires no stand boiler or storage tank of special construction.

When the device is employed as a steam generator, the boiler or tank 5 will be provided at a suitable point between the top and bottom thereof with a water gage L25 to facilitate maintenance of water within said boiler' or tank 5 at a desired level. Also, a gage 29 may be provided to indicate tue steam pressure within tank or boiler 5, while said tank or boiler 5 may be provided at the top with a suitable safety pressure release valve 3D to permit the escape of steam in case the pressure thereof unduly rises within the top of boiler or tank 5. 3l indicates a drain cock provided at the bottom of boiler or tank 5 for an obvious and ordinary purpose. Obviously, the present invention avoids an attempt to directly heat the large body of water within the tank or boiler 5 and by use of a heater in connection with a relatively small Water back having circulatory connections with the tank or boiler 5, a comparatively simple and inexpensive electric heater may be utilized with efficient results and a minimum current consumption. Minor changes are contemplated in the specific details illustrated and described, such as fairly come within the scope of. the invention as claimed. For instance, the provision of a resistance element 2| at both sides of body i9 would involve mere duplication, and would fall within the spirit of the present invention,

What I claim as new is:

1. A steam or hot water generator for heating systems, comprising a water back in the form of a flat hollow metallic shell having means at one end to facilitate circulatory connections between the same and a storage tank, and an electric heater for said water back including a hollow body of insulating material provided with an internal resistance element along at least one side and snugly fitted over and encasing said water back.

2. A steam or hot water generator for heating systems, comprising a water back in the orm of a ilat hollow metallic shell having means at one end to facilitate circulatory connections between the same and a storage tank, and an electric heater for said water back including a hollow' body of insulating material provided with an internal resistance element along at least one side and snugly fitted over and encasing said water back, said heater body being open at the bottom and one end to facilitate placing of the same over the water back and to provide clearance for the circulatory connections at one end of said water back.

3. A steam or hot water generator for heating systems, comprising a water back in the form of a flat hollow metallic shell having means at one end to facilitate circulatory connections between the same and a storage tank, an electric heater for said water back including a hollow body of f insulating material provided with an internal resistance element along at least one side and snugly tted over and encasing said water back, a plug receptacle embedded in the top wall of said heater body, and conductors embedded in said heater body and connecting the terminals oi said resistance element with the terminals of said plug receptacle.

` ARLIE M. BROWN. 

